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#10: Ole Miss has introduced a new system of priority points and tax-deductible donations, pursuant to last year's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Under the previous system, supporters earned one point for every $100 donated, as well as one point per season ticket purchased in FB, MBB, WBB and baseball, with all points accumulating together. Under the new system, priority points will now be split into two categories: red points and blue points. In the red points category, supporters will earn one full point through the purchase of a season ticket, and one-half point for every $100 donated to priority seating. The red points total will then be used to determine rankings for seat selections at on-campus events. Meanwhile, blue points will be accumulated the same way as red points; however, donors can also accumulate one blue point per every $100 donated above and beyond seating requirements. Blue points will count toward campus parking allocations and seat selection rankings for non-campus venues. The new system allows Ole Miss to continue using priority points for seat and parking selections, while allowing donors to continue receiving tax deductions for donations above and beyond the seating requirements. (link)
#9: Auburn AD Greene leads a tour of the Harbert Family Recruiting Center, which is set to open this season at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Features include a first-floor recruiting lounge, Daktronics board, Heisman room and locker room while the second floor features the Tiger Walk Club, replete with 12 TVs, game-viewing area and a full-service kitchen. Watch. (link)
#8: Ohio State and Clemson have partnered with WMT to develop new websites that launched Sunday & include enhanced features and functionality as well as improve the interactive experience for users. The front page feeds now include full schedules, improved video players, updated photo galleries and GIFs of Buckeyes and Tigers in action. In accordance with the newly redesigned sites, the Tigers are offering behind-the-scenes vlog hosted by FB HC Swinney capturing a slice of what it's like to be a student-athlete, coach or staffer in the Reeves Operations Complex. (link, link)
#7: More on UAB's cost cutting measures, which included eliminating 12 athletic department positions. Most notably was former Softball HC Townsend. One sports information position was filled then eliminated before the new hire even started. "Fiscal responsibility" pointed to as the reasoning, but ABC 33/40 The Zone's commentators call on AD Ingram to explain. (link)
#6: On his first official day on the job, new Oklahoma Prez Gallogly cut a third of the positions that report directly to him. (link)
#5: Cal State-Northridge has officially named UC Irvine AD Izzi to the same position, effective at the end of July. Prez Harrison: "CSUN athletics is a powerful vehicle for engagement -- with our students, with our more than 350,000 alumni and with our community. I warmly welcome Michael to CSUN and eagerly anticipate his leadership for our athletic programs. He has a proven track record of building a culture where student-athletes realize their full potential in the classroom and in competition." During his tenure at UCI, the Anteaters have finished in the top five of NACDA's DI-AAA standings in eight of the last 12 years, with 44 programs finishing their respective seasons ranked in the top 25. Izzi: "There is a great deal of momentum across Matador athletics. With the strong vision of President Harrison and the support of the entire Matador community, we will be competing for league titles year in and year out. I thank UC Irvine for the past decade and look forward to being a Matador and creating a legacy of success at CSUN." DHR International assisted with the search. (link)
#4: The 2017-18 Learfield Directors' Cup standings are final. Here are all the numbers. Top 10: Stanford, UCLA, Florida, USC, Texas, Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia, Florida State, Texas A&M. (link - ranked, link - by conference); USA Today's Berkowitz runs down some AD bonuses connected to the results. Virginia Tech's Babcock gets a $50K salary increase for a top 30 finish, base is now $750K. $15K for Oregon's Mullens, $30K for Minnesota's Coyle, $50K for Kentucky's Barnhart, $40K for NC State AD Yow, $20K for North Carolina boss Cunningham, $30K for Florida State's Wilcox, $25K at Ohio State for Bucks AD Smith, $100K in Gainesville for Florida AD Stricklin, $30K for UCLA AD Guerrero. (link); Here's how Stanford celebrated its 24th straight title. (link)
#3: In a move that received acclaim from many in the national media, former Arkansas AD Long is back in the game as the new boss at Kansas. KU Chancellor Girod, in part, "Those who know him describe him as a man of character who cares deeply about higher education and the student-athletes he serves. For all these reasons, we are thrilled to welcome him to the University of Kansas." Long's deal is for five years at a $1.5M base & includes a stipulation that any improprieties by FB, MBB, WBB or Volleyball that went down before he starts in Lawrence & end up in NCAA sanctions equal an extension of his contract to match the length of the penalties. Of the $1.5M, $1.3M will be paid by Kansas Athletics Inc., with the other $200K covered by the university. (link); The Athletic's Kersey uses the words "bold" & "smart." Also, "Considering his contract, Kansas has apparently committed to allowing Long to do his job, and to do it the way he sees fit." (link)
#2: Kinda feels like click bait, but also kinda fun. Yahoo's Forde ranks every 'Power 5' brand based on their cumulative 2017-18 competitive performances, as well as offering a "trajectory" note (up, down, steady). Top 10: Stanford (steady), Florida (steady), USC (steady), UCLA (up), Texas (steady), Ohio State (down), North Carolina (down), Michigan (steady), Penn State (steady), Virginia (down). Forde says the Pac-12's' Conference of Champions' moniker is absolutely true, calls Minnesota the most overachieving brand, Miami (FL) the top underachiever. (link, link)
#1: UMKC has announced a shakeup within its athletic department that will result in AD Wilson becoming senior director for student support services in the chancellor's office. Deputy AD/SWA Gurney will take over as AD on an interim basis. Wilson has been at UMKC for 30 years, serving as AD since 2013. (link)
